MELBOURNE: Tennis star Novak Djokovic has had his visa to enter Australia dramatically revoked on his arrival in Melbourne, BBC has reported.
The world number one was held in the city’s airport for several hours before border forces announced he had not met entry rules and would be deported, according to the report.
He has reportedly now been taken to a government detention hotel pending his departure on an outbound flight.
The developments come amid a backlash over a vaccine exemption Djokovic said he got to play in the Australian Open.
Djokovic has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year he said he was “opposed to vaccination”.
Tennis Australia confirmed a medical exemption had been granted for the player “following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels” but problems emerged after Djokovic arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday from Dubai.
In a statement, the Australian Border Force said Djokovic “failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.
“Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia,” it added.
(BBC)
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